Forgotten striker Nathan Elder believes he can return to boost Shrewsbury Town’s promotion push, insisting: “I can do a serious job.”

The 25-year-old has been sidelined since April last year, having sustained a serious knee injury while on loan at AFC Wimbledon.

But he stepped up his rehabilitation with a run-out for the reserves in midweek and is eager to force his way into manager Graham Turner’s first team plans.

“I feel like I’ve just signed,” said Elder. “I didn’t have the best of times when I first came here.

“I could put the blame on many things, it’s easy to make excuses, but it’s in the past.

“I feel rejuvenated. I don’t think people have seen the best of me but I’m not putting pressure on myself – I’ve just come back from injury and I have to be patient.

“I feel stronger, I feel happier and I feel like I can do a serious job.”

Elder came on for the last 25 minutes as Town’s second string played out a 2-2 draw with Macclesfield on Tuesday.

And the former Brentford man admits it signalled the end of a nightmare 10 months in which he questioned whether he had a future in the game.

“It was a relief more than anything,” said Elder.

“There were a few nerves but it was more of a relief to get certain things out of my system and to be playing against players you don’t know rather than your own team-mates.

“It’s hard. You have to keep your spirits up and I had a spell of about a month where I was really depressed.”

By Chris Hudson